V/H/S HALLOWEEN: A Brutal Halloween Collection

This review was made possible through screeners by Shudder and the IFC Entertainment Group

The long-running anthology series known as V/H/S has become a bit of a tradition, as each year we are met with a series of gruesome tales that weave together. V/H/S Halloween is the franchise’s 8th installment, and it centers around various found footage tapes from different Halloween nights. From twisted haunted houses, demented candy, cursed decorations, and even a shocking entry that felt all too real, this installment may be one of the best since the first two were released.

A majority of the shorts tap into the usual unserious vibe that the franchise typically aims for, such as two teens on their last Halloween hurrah before graduating, who end up trapped in a house of horrors by a grieving mother. This story evokes uncomfortable laughter, as it features giant-sized babies and more throughout. We get a story teaching us a lesson on what happens if you take more than one piece of candy from the bowl that says to only take one. There is even a haunted house gone wrong to finish this delightful film.

Despite leaning into the campy and gruesome horror, there is one story that decides to play it straight-faced. Children have been going missing on Halloween in a small town, and this story is perhaps the most uncomfortable of them all. It does an excellent job playing on parents’ fears and wraps up in a rather upsetting manner. As always, there is a story aside from the story in which we see scientists trying out an experiment on subjects by having them drink a soda that is in production. Of course, there is always a twist as things elevate throughout the film, as each test gets more horrifying and bloody.

All in all, V/H/S Halloween is full of violent and gruesome deaths that will leave you wincing at every moment. This film is the perfect way to kick off your October horror movie watches, and I suggest you start here! Oh, and be careful which house you decide to enter this Halloween, you may never know what you will find..

Overall Grade: 7.8/10

V/H/S Halloween begins streaming on October 3rd via Shudder!

For more reviews by Matt Roth, be sure to check out http://linktr.ee/hopsgeeknews